Wife Robyn was declared brain dead in December

It was a bittersweet weekend for a new father in Victoria as he said goodbye to his wife soon after his son Iver was born.

Dylan Benson’s story has resonated across the country after word got out earlier this month that his wife, Robyn, suffered a brain hemorrhage in December while 22 weeks pregnant. Although she was declared brain dead, Benson and doctors decided to keep her in the care of Victoria General Hospital until the baby born could be safely delivered.

On Saturday, a healthy baby Iver Cohen Benson was born.

“Iver is healthy and is the cutest and most precious person I have ever met,” Benson wrote on his blog. “As to be expected, it will still be a bumpy ride for he and I as he continues to grow under the care of the wonderful staff at the hospital.”

According to the Times Colonist, doctors had hoped to reach 30 weeks before delivering but decided that last weekend, at 28 weeks, was the right time. Iver was born at 7:12 p.m weighing two pounds, 13 ounces. The premature baby will likely stay in hospital until May.

Dylan Benson with baby Iver. (via Dylan Benson)

But the next day, Benson, 32, had to say goodbye to Robyn.

“On Sunday, we had to unfortunately say goodbye to the strongest and most wonderful woman I have ever met. I miss Robyn more than words can explain. I could not be more impressed with her strength, and I am so lucky to have known her,” he wrote.

“She will live on forever within Iver, and in my heart.”

Robyn was 32. The couple had just married last July.

Dylan (left) and Robyn Benson are shown in a family handout photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO)

“I don’t think I have the right words to describe it,” the new father told the Canadian Press Monday night. “It’s the best and definitely the worst thing to ever happen to me in my life at the same time.”

“My first thought was just how amazing he (Iver) looked and … I guess it’s just a massive, massive sense of relief that he was here and he had made it, and then of course the excitement of wanting to see him, and also the same amount of fear knowing that I would have to say goodbye.”

Those touched by the Benson family’s story have been donating to a YouCaring.com crowdfunding page. Benson set it up to help Iver through his first year of life, but donors’ generosity has now far exceeded his initial goal of $36,000.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 3,400 donations have raised $150,249. The additional money will be used for living costs and support for Iver, including an education fund.

“The public needs to know how thankful I am for their support,” said Benson. “Please, please tell everyone that I am so thankful for the support from everywhere. The messages, the nice comments, the emails, all of that it has helped immensely in getting through this tough time.”